Arrival in St Jean de Sixt - an authentic village in the Aravis, enjoying a privileged location between Lake Annecy, Mont Blanc and Switzerland, and the perfect base to start your independent hiking tour. *Easiest arrival through Geneva Airport (50min bus ride to Annecy; train ride is possible too) or Lyon Airport (2hrs bus ride to Annecy), followed by another bus ride from Annecy to St Jean de Sixt (50min; timetable: https://www.voyages-alpbus.fr).

Your first hiking day begins with a gentle walk towards the plateau of the Confins. Once there, you can choose between two options to proceed: 1) loop via the tête du Danay (1731m), passing through the Mouilles de la Perrière with a beautiful panorama of the Aravis range to the East and Mont Lachat de Chatillon and the Bouchet valley. 2) a version via Pointe de Beauregard, passing Lac de la Ferriaz and descending to La Clusaz via Le Planet. Overnight in La Clusaz.

Bus ride (payable on spot) to Lac des Confins, where today's walk begins. You start hiking by the pass of Annes (1721m), and also at the foot of the highest summit of Aravis - Pointe Percée (2753m). The high mountain pastures of the Confins plateau will lead you towards Bouchet Valley, hidden between the summits of Pointe Percée and Pointe du Roulletaz. The walking path by-passes some sides of the mountain to cross easily the next passes of Borneronde and Annes (you can have a lunch break at the cottage at Annes pass). Descent to the hamlet of Chinaillon under the ridges of the Pointes d’Almet, Grande Combe and the Pointe de Deux Heures. A shorter tour version is available, descending to Chinaillon via Col de l'Oulettaz. Overnight in Le Chinaillon.

From Chinaillon, you climb to the chalets of Guillery and then to the Col de la Colombière (1607 m). From the pass, two hiking options are available for you to proceed: 1) Pointe de Balafrasse: you climb to the heart of the Bargy range (first to the Peyre lake then to the Balafrasse pass), and on to the Pointe de Balafrasse (2296m) from where you can enjoy a beautiful panorama before going back down by the same route to Chinaillon. 2) The Lac de Lessy: this is a scenic 13km hike starting from Le Chinaillon, heading directly toward the beautiful Lessy Lake. Expect a significant workout, with an elevation change of approximately 800m. It has a shorter route option (turn back early at the Col Sous le Buclon), but also a loop option (complete a circuit by climbing up past the Bassins de Samance before returning to Chinaillon). Overnight in Le Chinaillon.

The day starts with a climb by the ridge of Aiguille Verte (2000m) and the Lessy Lake. The view from the Aiguille Verte into direction of the highest summit of the Aravis (Pointe Percée) is splendid. After that you cross the pass of Forclaz and walk down to the hamlet of Mayse (sheepfold, cottage, drinks, snacks). The hiking trail continues with a climb to the pass of Planay between the Roc des Tours and the Roc des Charmieux and then continues down to reach a trail which will lead you to the Mouilles, Tannaz and the Grand Bornand. A shortcut is possible to do along this trail, making the day's walk shorter. Overnight in Grand Bornand.

Early transfer to Montremont (850m a.s.l.). Here you can choose among 3 hiking options, each of them ending in Talloires (a beautiful village on the shores of Lake Annecy): 1) Climb to the foothill of La Tourette via the Col des Nantets (1426m) and the Col des Frêtes, eventually descending into Talloires (13km; 5,30hrs; +850m/-1270m). 2) Climb to Col des Nantets (1426m) and descend towards Talloires via Chalet de l’Aulp (15km; 6hrs; +800m/-1270m). 3) Same as 2), but with more straight descend into Talloires (9km; 4,30hrs; +600m; -1000m). From Talloires, depending on the travel date and time, you can either take the "omnibus" to reach Annecy (a boat that goes around the lake, passing through Doussard and Duingt), or you can take a bus in order to get there (both options are payable locally). Overnight in Annecy.

Departure possible after breakfast or an extra night in Annecy, so you can do the walk below, enjoy some more time at the shores of Lake Annecy and depart without rush on Day 8 (the additional night is payable extra; contact us for details). An optional hike is possible for this last day too: To reach the Col de Bluffy, wher e the hiking trail starts (7km) use the regular bus that goes towards Thones (the same one that you may have used to go on the 1st day to St Jean de Sixt). From there you will walk up towards the ridge of Mont Barret (1065m) which you will have to cross in order to reach the smugglers pass, followed by Mont Baron with its remarkable viewpoint (1254m). The path then follows the ridge to Mont Veyrier (1291m) and then descends to the edge of Lake Annecy.